Movie Reviews
Secret Mall Apartment movie review (2025) | Roger Ebert
“Secret Mall Apartment” is a Search Engine Optimization-friendly title for a documentary that’s about a lot of things that cannot be captured in three words. Directed by Jeremy Workman, it tells the story of a group of friends from a rundown, artist-friendly neighborhood who got pushed out of their homes by gentrification and somehow ended up discovering an unoccupied, seemingly unmapped spot inside of the mall that pushed them out, then began furnishing it as a living space. The process took three years, all told, and during that entire time, they managed to avoid detection by mall security or even other patrons.
Workman has said that as he worked on this film, he “quickly learned that they created the secret apartment to make a statement against gentrification. They had lost their homes as a result of development, and this was their unique personal way to show developers that they weren’t going anywhere.”
However, as the film demonstrates, there were other elements in the mix. One was the thrill of doing a victimless, playful protest crime in plain sight of mall staff and customers who never noticed that the same eight people were hanging out in the mall constantly, rarely buying anything but food court items, and disappearing and reappearing for hours at a time without leaving the complex. The group slowly created a “normal” apartment in a concrete-walled, high-ceilinged, 750-square-foot room accessible only through crawl spaces and a tall set of metal stairs (which must’ve been hell to navigate with the dish cabinet and multiple couches that ended up in the space).
What’s most fascinating of all is that, in a roundabout way, “Secret Mall Apartment” is about artistic expression—and how artists can talk and talk and talk about why they did things, but might never really know the full story because the impulse to create comes from such deep places.
The eight artists were Michael Townsend, the ringleader; his then-girlfriend Adriana Valdez Young, Colin Bliss, James J.A. Mercer, Andrew Oesch, Greta Scheing, Jay Zhengebot, and Emily Ustach. The mall apartment wasn’t just a lark or an invasion by “squatters” (as the local newspaper called them) but an extension of what the eight were already doing in their public-facing careers.
Townsend is mainly a “tape artist” who makes art with easily removable tape meant to be observed and considered and then disappear. He is also a teacher who specializes in instructing people who don’t think of themselves as artists to do art in groups and to encourage people to feel confident in their artistic impulse even if they haven’t had formal training. Under his leadership, the group of eight traveled all over the United States and did what you might call temporary or ephemeral art, often comprised of silhouettes of people, animals, and objects made of paper tape. (You might have heard about the taped silhouettes they did on the sides of New York buildings commemorating the lives of people who died in the 9/11 attacks.)
The various works were playful, clever, gently mysterious exercises. They were meant to remind people of the interconnectedness of human experience and fleeting nature of existence; bring beauty to places that otherwise lacked beauty; stop people in their tracks and make them think about why it’s so revelatory to see art in a place where you wouldn’t normally expect to see art.
Although there are a few re-creations that are clearly identified as such (the filmmakers constructed a replica of the mall apartment and show how it was designed and built in a studio), the movie relies mostly on the incredible amount of low-resolution, early aughts video footage captured by the group. A lot of the footage is process documentation, just showing what was done and how.
But some of it captures tense or raw moments, including arguments about the long-term usefulness of continuing the project and the gap between Michael’s enthusiasm and everyone else’s, and the group’s encounter will mall security while they were truing to smuggle concrete cinder blocks in via the parking garage. (Michael has always had a talent for talking his way out of these kinds of situations, but the movie is wise to admit that this project wouldn’t lasted more than a day if the participants were Black.)
Workman and his co-editor Paul Murphy have an intuitive and very pleasing sense of structure, giving you the information you need at the point in the story where you think, “I wish they’d tell me more about that.” The sense of how to time the appearance of context and explanation in a movie a gift that can’t be taught in schools; you either have it or you don’t. There are times when one might wish they’d dug a little deeper into the personalities and relationships (seven of the eight were publicly unidentified until now). And as complexly as Michael is portrayed, there are connections between his biography and this project that you keep expecting the movie to highlight, yet it never does. (As a child, he moved eight times in his first year of life, which all by itself suggests why a man would build an entire artistic career around things that aren’t permanent.)
But these are nitpicks. This is a delightful, thought-provoking movie that’s about a lot of things at the same time. It’ll make you see the world with fresh eyes, and probably wonder why there isn’t more art in it.
Nicole Kidman stars in ‘Holland’. Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
‘Holland’ receives 5.5 out of 10 stars.
Premiering on Prime Video on March 27th, ‘Holland’ is proof that even a potentially compelling concept and a decent cast can be squandered if the movie utilizing them doesn’t commit fully.
It’s a shame, as director Mimi Cave has made impressive work before. Here, though she seems to have lost her way with a meandering tale of suburban secrets.
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Does ‘Holland’s tale of tulips bloom?
Matthew Macfadyen stars in ‘Holland’. Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
It’s a rule that if your community and relationship in a thriller is apparently perfect on the surface, there must be dark secrets lurking beneath. After all, who really wants to sit through a story where it’s all apple pie and happy families?
Yet we’ve seen the story of suburban secrets so many times on screens both big and small that a movie really has to have something fresh to say about it. Unfortunately, even though Cave delivered with her previous movie, the cannibalistic comedy ‘Fresh,’ there’s not much of that spirit here.
In fact, there’s not much of any spirit. A movie riven by a split in its personality, the first half is a funny and sometimes entertaining look at a town and a relationship seemingly lost in time –– it’s set in the year 2000, but could be the 1960s for all its folksy traditionalism. The second half pulls the trigger on the thriller element as Nicole Kidman’s Nancy starts to learn the truth of who she’s married to, but even then the movie wants to keep up the jokier elements and the two tones really aren’t merged successfully.
Script and Direction
(L to R) Nicole Kidman and Gael Garcia Bernal stars in ‘Holland’. Photo: Jaclyn Martinez. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
Writer Andrew Sodroski has experience more in TV, creating a season of ‘Manhunt’ based around the Unabomber. His movie credits are mostly limited to a couple of crime thrillers. The problem with his scripting for ‘Holland’ is that it feels aimless –– for a movie whose main characters are a life skills teacher who prides herself on her cooking, the storyline is underbaked, and the other an optometrist, it’s noticeable how unfocused the characterization turns out.
It’s also an issue that the use of model train sets as metaphor for the control that one character has over another is so heavily employed as to approach parody. It’s one thing to employ a metaphor; quite another to beat it into the ground.
Cave does her best to bring some style to the proceedings; a dream sequence where Nancy imagines strange images such as her neighbors becoming mannequins and a flood sweeping through the town’s main street are effective, but the rest of the movie never achieves the same level of creepiness.
There are missed opportunities here and sadly, the movie fails to really coalesce.
Cast and Performances
(L to R) Matthew Macfadyen and Nicole Kidman star in ‘Holland’. Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
Nicole Kidman has spent the last few years mostly playing icy matriarchs, entitled wealthy housewives or driven businesswomen and if there’s an advantage to ‘Holland,’ it’s that she is able to once more tap into a kookier, sweeter character, albeit one who is not afraid to fight back when it counts.
She’s typically impressive, but the character doesn’t always offer her everything she needs, and it’s ultimately nowhere near as memorable as some of her other work.
Matthew Macfadyen, meanwhile, leans into the twin sides of Nancy’s husband Vandergroot –– at once the nerdy, seemingly sweet local ophthalmologist who brought her from a dead-end small town existence to this seemingly perfect existence and someone who is going to great lengths to conceal things (even if he leaves giant clues in his model train set up, a seemingly silly idea for someone with so much to hide).
He’s perfectly fine in the role, creepy when required and forever telling Nancy to just ignore what she’s worried about. But once the truth is revealed, the character becomes far more one-note.
Gael Garcia Bernal stars in ‘Holland’. Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
Gael García Bernal plays Dave Delgado, Nancy’s closest confidante at the school where they both work, and a man who would like their relationship to be more. Bernal brings some solid shades to the character, and has a good arc.
Elsewhere, there is some truly wasted talent on display. Though he certainly has a couple of decent scenes to show what he can do, young Jude Hill (who broke out in Ken Branagh’s ‘Belfast’) is here reduced to minor moments as the couple’s son, Harry.
Ditto Rachel Sennott, so good in the likes of ‘Shiva Baby’ and ‘Bottoms’ has exactly one tiny scene at the start of the movie to show what she can do, but it wasn’t even worth her showing up.
The other townsfolk are mostly limited to plot devices rather than actual humans, but the likes of Lennon Parham, Jeff Pope and Chris Witaske do what they can with tiny roles.
Final Thoughts
(L to R) Jude Hill and Nicole Kidman star in ‘Holland’. Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video. Copyright: © Amazon Content Services LLC.
‘Holland’ certainly has ideas on its mind, but sadly those ideas have been explored more effectively before. There’s not enough style or story here to really make it worth your while.
“Some things only look perfect.”
57
1 hr 48 minMar 27th, 2025
What is the plot of ‘Holland’?
A teacher (Nicole Kidman) in a small midwestern town suspects her husband (Matthew Macfadyen) of living a double life, but things may be worse than she initially imagined.
Who is in the cast of ‘Holland’?
- Nicole Kidman as Nancy Vandergroot
- Gael García Bernal as Dave Delgado
- Matthew Macfadyen as Fred Vandergroot
- Jude Hill as Harry Vandergroot
- Jeff Pope as Squiggs Graumann
- Isaac Krasner as Shawn Graumann
- Lennon Parham as Gwen
- Rachel Sennott as Candy Deboer
- Jacob Moran as Matt
Nicole Kidman stars in ‘Holland’. Photo: Courtesy of Prime Video © Amazon Content Services LLC.
List of Mimi Cave Movies:
Buy Nicole Kidman Movies on Amazon
Movie Reviews
‘Sikander’ reviews out: Fans hail Salman Khan’s ‘magnificent’ performance, praises movie for emotional depth
One fan said that ‘Sikander’ may be Khan’s best movie to date.
“Sikandar totally blows Salman bhai’s last few films out of the water; that entrance was insane! It’s got action, emotions, and the songs are pretty good too…” Reads the comment.”
A London-based Salman Khan, who watched first day first show, described the actor’s performance as “magnificent.”
“Just watched #Sikandar in London, and it was an incredible film and experience!!
@BeingSalmanKhan delivers a magnificent performance, supported by excellent BGM, imagery and plot! Excellent cast, including @iamRashmika ! The whole cinema was bouncing. #SikandarReview #SalmanKhan..” read the comment.
Another shared a clip of the audience going wild, clapping and hooting as Salman Khan enters the scene and gears up to beat the baddies to a pulp. “The moment #SalmanKhan steps into frame, the theater echoes with deafening cheers and whistles as fans go wild, screaming ‘Salman Bhai’ at the top of their lungs, welcoming their beloved hero to the silver screen! #Sikandar #SalmanKhan #SikandarReview,” Read the comment.
Another fan gushed, “One of the best entry scenes after Tiger Zinda Hai.”
Sikandar’s story and BGM. Solid performance, solid story, one of the best films of Salman Khan.”
Another praised the movie for it’s emotional depth along with fantastic action sequences. “Watched Sikandar and I’m blown away! Salman Khan’s most powerful performance yet, a perfect blend of emotional depth and mind-blowing action. Rashmika’s role was amazing too, and the music and BGM set everything on fire. A solid 9/10 masterpiece! #SikandarReview #SalmanKhan” #Sikandar..”
About ‘Sikander’
Helmed by A. Murugadoss, renowned for directing the 2008 Aamir Khan blockbuster Ghajini, Sikander unfolds the tale of Sanjay Rajkot, the ruler of Rajkot, Gujarat, who is also known by the moniker Sikander. A man intolerant of injustice, his world shatters when his wife, Saisri, tragically loses her life in a bomb blast.
Upon discovering that she had donated her organs to those in need, Sikander embarks on a deeply emotional journey to meet the recipients, navigating grief and redemption along the way.
Mounted on a lavish scale, the film boasts a staggering budget of ₹200 crore, according to reports. Alongside Aamir Khan in the titular role, the ensemble cast includes Rashmika Mandanna, Kajal Aggarwal, Sharman Joshi, Prateik Babbar, and veteran Tamil actor Sathyaraj in significant roles.
BOTTOM LINE
Impactful But Drags
RATING
2.5/5
CENSOR
U/A, 2h 42m
What Is the Film About?
Set in Medicharla village during the jathara time, the story of Veera Dheera Sooran happens over the night. The SP Arunagiri (SJ Suryah) is fed up with Ravi (Prudhvi Raj) and his son Kannan (Suraj Venjaramoodu) and wants to encounter them. Ravi sensing the SP’ plan, asks Kaali’s (Vikram) help to save his son.
Who is Kaali? What’s his background, and how does he help Ravi? The movie’s basic plot is what happens to these characters over the course of the night.
Performances
Vikram is in his element, playing a role that suits his age and has no external burdens to showcase him in a wildly different manner.
It is a simple yet intense act, and Vikram does it with ease all the way. There is drama and action in equal doses, along with a small mix of fun, too. The actor delivers, as usual, besides getting a few moments to show his versatile acting skills. Some of the scenes in the second half are testimony to these. Nothing is done over the top, and everything is well under control here.
Dushara Vijayan plays the wife character. She, too, gets decent footage in the male-dominated set-up, apart from sharing the emotional anchor with Vikram. Whenever she is given a chance, she delivers even if it feels like going slightly overboard at times.
Analysis
SU Arun Kumar of Chithha fame directs Veera Dheera Sooran. It is a rural action thriller interlaced with drama. The whole narrative taking place overnight gives it a unique touch.
The movie opens on a confusing note initially. It takes time to settle down, as multiple things seem to happen simultaneously. They are grippingly executed, though, which makes one curious as to what is happening instead of scratching head for the same reason.
The pacing is slow, yet the narrative feels cacophonous initially. It is when the proper motives are revealed and stakes are set that we finally get comfortable with the happenings.
The core point is simple, and once the main track starts, things heat up pretty quickly. The drama escalates within the given duration, and we are engaged in the proceedings despite the pacing issues. The minor exchanges involving the major characters are crucial here.
For example, when Vikram and SJ Suryah meet each other for the first time, the way the whole sequence is handled leaves one with thrill and joy, simultaneously. It is not the case throughout the duration, though. Scenes like this come from time to time, and that helps a lot in the overall scheme of things.
When we get into the flashback mode after almost an hour and a half, a massive sense of drag is felt, but the director brings the interval in the most unexpected and quirky way possible. It makes one look forward to the rest.
As things are paused right in the middle, everything is resumed as it is post-intermission. The entire Dileep block is neatly executed and helps us understand some of the actions in the first half. However, things stagnate post this neat portion. It feels as if the moments are happening in a loop, missing a smooth flow.
The scenes are lengthy, and they end with a punch. If the desired effect is achieved, the entire sequence feels fine, but when it doesn’t, the whole stretch looks like a drag. We have this issue majorly in the second half.
By the time we reach pre-climax, it feels like an eternity. And it is far from over as the climax is yet to arrive. However, the good thing with the ending is that the punch is delivered. It gives that little positivity that helps one overlook the lengthy stuff that happened before it.
More than anything, the major issue is uneven tone as the director tries too many things despite the whole thing looking simple. He wants the movie to be realistic, yet incorporates typical mass moments. There are sappy emotions and traces of black comedy.
Despite the length, inconsistent narration and drag, the major reason for one to hook into the proceedings is the characterisation of major players. The way these characters interact with one another holds attention despite the issues, in general.
Overall, Veera Dheera Sooran offers a fresh packaging of a routine premise seen usually in rural, semi-rural backdrop fares. It works well in parts, also there is a lot of lag, making it an average fare, in the end. Vikram holds it together, and if you like him, give it a try.
Performances by Others Actors
Apart from Vikram, we have SJ Suryah, Suraj Venjaramoodu and Prudhvi Raj playing key roles. SJ Suryah, who is the form of his life, delivers yet again. The good thing, additionally, here is that he doesn’t go over the top much. They are present, but spaced out with normal, intense acting taking the front for a change.
Suraj Venjaramoodu and Prudhvi Raj, playing the father and son duo, are good. The former is reliable, whereas the latter surprises. The Telugu audience is used to seeing Prudhvi in comic roles. To see him do such a serious part without any comic undertones is an eye-opener. The rest of the casting, which involves small bits and pieces parts is also fine.
Music and Other Departments?
GV Prakash Kumar provides the music and background score for the movie. There are few songs, to begin with, and the ones they have give a pleasant vibe. The background score is better, and it elevates the proceedings whenever necessary. The cinematography is good, capturing the rural festival atmosphere and the natural, dark mood. The editing is okay. The writing is also fine, despite actually standing out.
Highlights?
Direction
Performances
Casting
Drawbacks?
Uneven Narrative
Drags At Time
Length
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes, In Parts
Will You Recommend It?
Yes, but have expectations in check, especially considering the run time and tone.
Veera Dheera Sooran Movie Review by M9
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